High Tech, Low Drama - Job Captain Byrens Kim Design Employee Review

This firm's character is that of intimate and communicative interaction between all members of the design team. The principal is especially committed to guiding the team where necessary; his style of mentor-ship is just the right balance of hands-on/hands-off involvement. Because the firm is on the smaller side, responsibility is more widely distributed than it would be in a larger firm, which provides healthy challenges and the opportunity (even for newcomers) to experience all parts of the design process. The atmosphere of the studio is friendly and upbeat and open to the sharing of opinions. There are occasional office outings which give a nice chance to get to know your peers outside of work. The team is also remarkably diverse. The firm works mostly with public buildings—schools, health/recreation centers, etc. It is motivating to be working with projects that have such beneficial impacts on the community. From the day-to-day to the final completion of a project, the experience here is very rewarding.

The exterior of the studio is a bit plain, ironically, but the interior is quite nice. The work is not always riveting but necessary to the process nonetheless.

This was my first job in the field of architecture. I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to work for a company that placed so much emphasis on mentorship and inclusion. On day one my boss, the president of the company, took it upon himself to see that I was documenting IDP hours, studying for the ARE's, and being exposed to all aspects of the profession. I was able to participate in and learn about all of the phases of a project, from initial client meetings to final punchwalks. I also learned what it meant to be a representative of the firm in dealing with clients, contractors, and consultants. The design process at Byrens Kim Design Works is a very collaborative one. Designs and ideas with merit are valued regardless of whether they were submitted by the president, project manager, or designer. On several occasions office-wide charrettes would be held as a means of getting a fresh perspective on a design challenge. Above all, there is an undeniable sense of being valued as not just an employee but as a person.

This is a small family owned architecture firm with finite resources and because of this there is a limit on the scale and scope of a project that they can responsibly take on. There will be work to do that is not always flashy and exciting. If you aren’t able to maintain a consistent passion and design approach regardless of the apparent project “significance” then this firm is not for you.